Humidor.



c. B. GARSIENS.

HUMIDOR. APPLIOATION FILED JUNE 21 1909.

Patented Nov. 22, 1910.

s SHEETS-SHEET 1.

Witmmazo if M A 65%- 0; B. GARSTENS.

HUMIDOR.

APPLIOATION FILED JUNE 21, 1909.

Patented Nov. 22, 1910.

I 3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

MGOOQO O. B. GARSTENS.

HUMIDOR. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 21, 1969.

Patented Nov. 22, 1910.

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. CHARLES B. GARSTENS, OF GRAFTON, WISCONSIN, A SSIG-NOR F ONE-HALF TO, FRANK A. TRAVER, 0E MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN. p

HuMI'non.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed June 21, 1909. Serial No. 50 ,453.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES B. CARs'rENs, a citizen of the United States, residing at Grafton, Ozaukee county, Wisconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Humidors; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to certain improvements in humidors and the like; and the objects and nature of my invention will be readily understood by those skilled in the art in the light of the-following explanation of the accompanying drawings illustrating what I consider my preferred embodiments from among other formations and arrangements within the spirit and scope of my invention. o The invention consists in certain novel features in construction or in combinations and arrangements of parts as more fully and particularly pointed out hereinafter.

Referring to the accompanying drawings:Figure 1, is a perspective view of a construction in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2, is a vertical longitudinal section, dotted lines indicating parts in different ositions from the positions indicated by ll lines. Fig. 3, is a top plan View,

parts being broken away. Fig. 4, is a perspective view showing another construction in accordance with my invention.- Fig. 5, is a longitudinal vertical section through a portion of the structure of Fig. 4. Fig. 6, 1s a detail view of the sensitive controlling element.

In the construction of species of Fig. 1, 2, is an open-to bottom or drip pan from the corners or en s of which rise vertical spaced pairs of posts or frame uprights 3, at their upper ends fixed to and sup orting the elevated horizontal usually-e o'ngated water supply tank 4. If so desired, this tank 4,

Y can be interiorly provided with a false end v of transverse parallel spaced pins or rods 7 or partition 5, near one end thereof to form the passage way 6, vertically through an end of the tank opening into the top of the space inclosed by the four uprights 3. Each pair of uprights is provided with a vertical series 8, is asheet, web or band-of absorbentmaterial such as any suitable fabric of. the desired absorbent quality ,and providin surfaces for thefr'eeand ready evaporation of water carried by the,"fabric. At its'lower end, this web is usually suitably secured to the bottom pin 7 of one of the series of pins and from thence the web is carried upwardly and back and forth between the two series and over the pins thereof to form the 'zigzag arrangement of longitudinal plies of the web within the open frame formed by said uprights. From the topmost longitudinal ply, the web is carried vertically through the passage 6, and then laterally over the pivoted -vor fulcrumed end, and longitudi nally,'0f 1a swinging '(or otherwise vertically movable) dip blade, frame or member 9, arranged longitudinally of and'within the water tank 4. -The web is stretched over said frame 9, and is suitably confined thereratemea Nov. 22, role. I

to and exposed at the surface thereof and if frame swings, said pintles being mounted in the side walls of the tank.

The frame 9, is designed to dip into the water or other liquid in the tank and thereby wet the web carried by said frame, Whereby said web will-by capillary action draw liquid from the tank and carry the same throughout the entire length of the web and maintain the same soaked with the liquid. The convolutions of the web stretched back and forth between the pins 7, are exposed to the atmosphere and form and COl'lStltlltG extended areas of evaporating surfaces. In the event that moisture is drawn u from the water tank in excess of evaporation, the drip or surplus moisture will be caught up by the drip pan 2.

The device is intended for use in cigar or other cases or inclosures wherein it is desirable to maintain the humidity of the air at acertain degree. It is hence desirable to 40 the water in provide .meansf for-controlling the feed or flow of'moisture to the evaporating surfaces 2 of the web to prevent excess of moisture in the 8.11 as well as to maintain the humidity of the air up to the desired degree.

In'the specific example illustrated, I control the supply of moisture fed to the evaporating surfaces, by dippim the upper end of the web in or by raising the same entirely from the body of water in the supply tank through the medium of the dipping frame 9, and I control the position of said frame by means exposed to the air in thecase and sensitive, to the de 'ree of humidity thereof. For instance, I s ow the fulcrumed end of the frame 9, rigid with an upwardly projecting about right-angle actuating heel or 'hea projection 11, extending above the to of the supply tank, and hel loosely against the of a screw 12, forming the stop limitfling-downward movement of frame 9, and

longitudinally adjustable in the outer end of sensitive expansion bar 13, arranged. longitudinally atthe top of the tank.- The bar 13, is rigidly secured at its outer end to the tank by fixedclip or bracket 14, so that the bar is free to longitudinally expand and contract and thereby move its free end carrying screw 12, lon itudinally or toward and from the contro ling projection 11, of the dip frame 9. I

The sensitive member 13, is composed of such materialas to be sensitive to the condition of the air as re ards humidity or,

moisture.- In other wor s, when the air becomes dry and the humidity thereof drops belowthe desired degree, the sensitive member becomes dry and contracts longitudinally, drawing back the screw 12, and permitting the frame 9 to drop by gravity into the tank so that the web can soak up moisture and feed the same to the evaporating surfaces to saturate the same to the desiredex-tent. When through evaporation from said surfaces, the air in the case has been sufficiently moistened, and is of the desired humidity, the sensitive member res onds "by absorbing moisture and gradual y expands, forcing thescrew against projection 11 and lifting frame 9, and the web thereon from the liquid in the tank and thereby cutting off the liquid feed to the evaporating' surfaces.

' In the specific example illustrated, the

sensitive member is composedof a block of wood, .for instance, basswood or linden, cut

1 element arranged at movement of the sensitive member necessary to raise the frame 9 from the water can be increased or diminished, thereby enablin the operator to adjust the device to cut 0 the water feed at any suitable predetermined degree of humidity.' For instance, if the screw is turned to increase its projection beyond bar 13, a lower degree of humidity will cause expansion of the bar suflicient to raise the frame 9, than if the screw be turnedin the opposite direction to lessen its projection beyond the bar.

17, is a pointer, or index finger exposed at the top of the tank and moving with the rojection 11, and over scale 18 at one end indicating dry and the other wet.

In the other species shown, theupper water supply tank and the bottom drip pan are employed with the evaporating cloth arranged between .the tank and pan and stretched back and forth between the horizontal pins or wires. However, 'in this species I show the pins 70, arranged lon itudinally of the open frame formed by t e uprights 3,- and the downwardly inclined convolutions or plies of the web 80, extending transversely of the frame instead of extending and inclined longitudinally thereof as in the first described species. The absorbent evaporating web does not extend into the tank but a horizontal perforated liquid spraying or drip pipe 41, is arranged above the top ply or convolution of the evaporat ing weband is supplied by a pipe connection opening into the tank 40, through the fioor thereof. Hence when said connection is open liquid will flow from the tank into feed or dri from onto the top portion of the web so that the entire web will become saturated with moisture and through evaporation will supplythe desired amount or degree of moisture to the air of the case or inclosure containin of moisture to the drip or feedpipe can controlled and cut off by a vertically movpipe 41, and will drip thereable valve 42, arran ed in the water tank to move down, and c ose the outlet to pipe -41, or to move u and open said outlet to permit feeding ow of moisture from the tank. This valve "is carried by a stem 43,-

. extending through the tank to the top thereof and is actuated or operated by a suitable sensitive expansible controlling device or and open or exposed to theair within the casing or inclosure contaln ng the humldor the exterior of'the tank and caused to expand or contact by the con.-

dition of said air in the matter of moisture.

The upper end of the valve stem 43 can be fixed to the free end of the sensitive member to move vertically therewith. In this the free end of said member can be species,

vertlcally, m-

arranged to; move laterally,

stead of longitudinally to move the valve to closed and open positions. This can be ac- "complished by employing a composite or ing to hold the bar straightened out in its normal straight condition holding the valve in opened position. When the air contains the requiredamount or degree of moisture,

the sensitive wood bar absorbs moisture and begins to expand and consequently warps or bends against the tension .of the spring plate secured thereto, .and thereby moves the free'end of the bar vertically ina direction to move the valve to closing position;

to stop the liquid feed to the evaporating As the air becomes normalposition, assisted bythe tension of the spring, until the valve is raised and the liquid feed to the evaporating cloth is again resumed. The wood bar 1s secured at one end and the metal plate fixedly secured to and longitudinally ofthe bar, say, at its under face, prevents the longitudinal expansion of the underside of the bar, and hence the bar will swell or'expand at its remaining exposed surfaces, and the bar will thereby slightly bow or buckle and depress its free end. The opposite or secured end of the bar can be inserted in an ap roximately U-shaped bracket or clip 46, xed to the tank top and having depending (retaining rib or boss 47, entering a depression in the top face of the bar near its end, and an upwardly projecting fulcrum'rib or boss 49, entering a corresponding depression in the under face of the bar and'located nearer the free end of the bar than the rib 47, so that said rib 48 can act as a fulcrum on which 'the bar canrock in the bracket to' permit slight vertical adjustment of its free end to vary the extent of movement of the bar necessary to close the valve. This adjustment can be accomplished by vertical screw .49, bearing on'the bar in rear of its fulcrum and adjustable through the top arm of the bracket and carrying exposed pointer 50, movin over exposed graduated scale 51.

' If the in ex or polnter is moved to wet,

the free end of the bar will be raised and a greater movement of the bar will be required to close the valve than if the pointer is moved to dry which adjustment will depress the free end of the bar;

It is evident that various changes, modifications' and variations might be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention and hence I'do not wish to limit myself to the exact constructions and arrangements disclosed.

.-What I claim,is:--

1. In a humidor, in combination, acapil porting frame, a water supply tank, a ca illary web formlng an evaporating sur ace exposed to the atmosphere and having a water feeding portion movable into and from the water'in said tank, and means for movingsaid portion into and from feeding'positlon said means comprising an expansion member sensitive to varying degrees of atmospheric humidity, and provided with adjusting means and an indlcator.

3. In a humidor,-in combination, a frame, a water supply tank, a capillary web having evaporating surfaces arranged in sald frame and exposed to the atmosphere, a dlpping blade carrying a portion of said web and movable to dlp the same into or raise the same from the water in said tank, said blade having an operating projection, and an expansion bar arranged inoperative relation to said projection to move the blade, said. expansion bar sensitive to varying degrees of atmospheric humidity 'to expand or contract. t

4. In a humidor, in combinatioman evaporating surface, means for maintaining a body of liquid, a device for intermittingly feeding liquid from said body to said surface, sa1d device being movable to and from operative position dipping into said body, and an expansive member, for actuatin said-device, sensitive to atmospheric conditions to expand or contract according to the humidity of the atmosphere.

5. In a humidor, in combination, an evaporating surface, a source of liquid supply, a device for feeding liquid from said source to said surface provided with a capillary feeding portion adapted to be dipped into and withdrawn ,from the liquid, and a member for actuating said device.

6. In a humidor, in combination, an evaporating surface, a source of liquid supply, a

vertically swingable carrier provided wit-h actuating and controlling member for said carrier, and whereby the carrier is adapted to dip said portion into or raise the same from the'liquid.

7 In a humidor, a liquid receptacle, a carrier havin'gan operating projection and rovided with capillary material adapte to feed liquid for evaporation, sa1d carrier being swingable vertically to carry sa1d material into and from the liquid in said receptacle, and an expansion member capable of expanding or contracting according to" insaid receptacle,

web arranged exteriorly of said receptacle,

swing its free end into and from the liquid a capillary evaporating said carrier provided with capillary quidfeeding material arranged to supply said web with fluid from said rece tacle and adapted to be dipped into and lifted from the liquid by said carrier, an expansive memher adapted to expand or contract according to the humidity of the atmosphere, and means whereby the vertical position of said carrier is determined by the expansion and contraction of said member.

9. In a humidor, in combination, a frame, an upper liquid receptacle, having a cover, a carrier pivotally hung to swing into and from the liquid in said receptacle and having an upwardly extending operating projection whereby the vertical posltion of said carrier is determined, an expansion member on said cover and arranged in operative relation with respect to sald' projection to determine the vertical position of the carrier, and an evaporating web arranged below said receptacle and having a liquid feeding capillary portion carried by said carrier into andfrom the liquid in saidreceptacle.

10. In a humidor, in combination, a liquid receptacle having a vertically swingable cover, a carrier provided with capillary material adapted to feed liquid from said receptacle for evaporation, said carrier;mounted independently of said cover to carry said material into or from the liquid in said receptacle and having an operating projec-' tion, and a controlling member arranged on .said cover in operative position with respect to said projection to determine the vertical position of said carrier. i

' 11. A humidor having liquid feed means comprising a movable member, and an expansion b o gitudinally adjustable abutment in normal operative engagement with said member, said block being sensitive to expand and contract under variations in atmospherichumidity and being fixed at one end against longitudinal movement and being free at its opposite end carrying said abutment to ck at its free end having a lon.-

move under expansion and contraction and thereby control the position expand or contract under sition of said member, fixed at one end against bodily longitudinal of the block to'determine the position of said member, an adjusting screw-for determining the normal position of-said member without'varying the position of said block adjusting movement of said screw, and-an indicating scale for said indicator, substantiallyas described; Y

humidity, and being fixed against odily movement longitudinally "and at one ,end portion free.

contraction and, thereby actuate or control said member, adjusting meansfon-varying the normal or starting position of said member withouttbodily shifting said blocklon-w gitudinally, a movable pointer shifted, by the ad'ustme'nt ofsaid means, and 'ascale for said pointer indicating whether said startinlgn POSItIOIlJtOIE said member. 1 14. a humidor, a frame, a liquid receptacle arranged thereon and having a top, an evaporating web arranged in the frame below said receptacle, means for feeding liquid from said receptacle to said web comprising a movable element whereby said means is controlled to stop and start the liquid feed, and an expansion block for controlling and moving said element, said block being sensitive to atmospheric humidit and exposed and secured on said receptac stop and having a portion free to op'eratively move under expansion and contraction) In testimony whereof I aflix my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

j ARLEs'B. ARSTENSJ Witnesses: 4 THEO. CARsrENs, v

' A. O. MOBEAN.

v of said member. 12. A humidor comprising a movable member, and an expansion block sensitive mospheric humidity and controlling. the posaid block being movement and being free at its .oppositeend to move under the expansionand contraction r 765 means is in position to retard or advance the variations in at longitudinally, aniindlcator actuated'by'the i 13. 'A humidor having an actuated member, and a controlling expansion block then-en r: v 'for, said block being sensitive to expand and contract under variations in atmospheric to move under expansionand j 

